1 . A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women’s shoes.
Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.
A San Francisco start-up company called Rothy’s, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Roth Martin is the company’s co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for women’s feet. They take the plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press them through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then combined together. This is done by a 3D machine. It is designed to reduce waste while making the shoes. The knitted stuff and the inner part of the shoe are then attached to the shoe’s outer part, called the sole (鞋底). This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.
Rothy’s shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $ 125 or $ 145 per pair, depending on the design. After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them last year, the demand for the shoes grew. Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We’re not going to run out of water bottles any time soon. So we have a limitless supply of material, and I think that is a good sign for our future.” When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled materials to make other products.
For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shipping in the near future.
1. How are used plastic bottles usually dealt with?| A．They are buried or burned. |
| B．They are used to make shoes. |
| C．They are changed into soft materials. |
| D．They are returned to factories for reuse. |
| A．Attached. | B．Fixed. |
| C．Combined. | D．Repaired. |
| A．The design and color. | B．The reasonable price. |
| C．The company’s advertisement. | D．The star power of Gwyneth Paltrow. |
| A．To advertise a new kind of shoes. |
| B．To describe the process of making shoes. |
| C．To introduce a new way of recycling plastic waste. |
| D．To stress the importance of environmental protection. |
2 . Fikiri Kiponda’s path from accountant to marine (海洋的) conservationist was sparked by a chance encounter. After securing his dream job, Kiponda decided he wanted more. He wasn’t quite sure what he was looking for until he ran across some turtle hatchlings.
He didn’t know it was turtle. Fortunately enough he got the right person to ask and he got motivated. That person was Nkindi, a staff member at the Watamu Conservation project who later invited him to volunteer on the project. He later left his accounting job and fully devoted himself into the world of sea turtles. Now, he runs and spends his time nursing critically endangered sea turtles back to health.
Sea turtles have been around for nearly 110 million years and are now considered highly endangered. Their preservation rests on activities of conservationists such as Kiponda as these turtles face numerous threats and signs of their extinction in the next 50 years.
Local fishermen traditionally catch them to supplement their own low catch rates and sell them for their oil. As changes are made to accommodate more hotels for tourists, there is less available beach land for turtle nesting.
Kiponda’s passion has now spread to his community, changing their attitude towards sea life preservation with his “by-catch release programme.”
Through this program, fishermen are now paid for returning turtles accidentally caught in their fishing nets. The healthy ones are tagged and released into the marine park while he takes care of sick and injured turtles back to health.
Before the launch of pioneering spirit like this, turtles caught by fishermen were used for their meat and their oil extracted (提炼) for its medicinal properties.
“Releasing the turtle back into the ocean is a very good feeling, like, you feel like you’ve done something concrete and I guess everybody would love to do that...so I guess it’s unique work.”
1. What was Fikiri Kiponda’s dream job according to the text?| A．An accountant. |
| B．A marine conservationist. |
| C．A guide to the Watamu Conservation Project. |
| D．An advocate for turtles. |
| A．The rising sea level. | B．Being caught by tourists. |
| C．Overdevelopment in the tourism. | D．The reduction in their nesting place. |
| A．Energetic but conservative. | B．Enthusiastic and caring. |
| C．Arbitrary but considerate. | D．Ambitious and knowledgeable. |
| A．The man saving endangered sea turtles. |
| B．An unique job of protecting sea turtles. |
| C．A pioneer project protecting sea animals. |
| D．The current situation faced by sea turtles. |
3 . Comedy and Psychology
Earlier this year I did a part-time comedy course. The class was taught by Ryan, a professional comedian.I had performed a show, which wasn’t originally meant to be a comedy. However, the audience laughed at my first joke, then continued to laugh throughout the routines that were meant to be serious. So it was the audience who told me I was funny, but I didn’ t understand why or how to control the comic (滑稽的) moments. So, I joined the course to learn.
“Turn off your editor that makes you say the right thing and remember how to be a child,” explained Ryan. “Don’t try to be clever. Don’t try too hard to be funny…and knowing all about the theory of humor is unlikely to help you much. Just behave in a silly way. That’s what people want to see on stage.”Ryan would help us loosen up by saying things like, “Wander around talking to others, but make sure that you’re the lowest status person here.”
I’ d say that understanding the psychology of humor has actually helped. Recently I came across the book Inside Jokes: Using Humor to Reverse-Engineer the Mind. Its main idea is that any self-directed intelligent system will need to correct its own fault. There’s a risk that the occasional error will be made. If this was boring or burdensome, we’d be less willing to do it. However, evolution has made the process fun.
Here’s a joke in the book: Two fish are in a tank. One says to the other, “Do you know how to drive this thing?” It works on the principle that we have started to imagine one thing—that the tank is the typical container people keep fish in—and, just in time, the following words tell us that our first assumption was wrong—it’s a heavy vehicle. For correctly figuring out the error, we are rewarded with a pleasurable feeling. The joke is an efficient way of encouraging this natural reaction, and comedians have become experts in slightly touching this mental funny-bone in order to make us laugh.
Ryan was right when he said that knowing the theory of humor wouldn’t help us that much as a comedy.During one exercise in the course, four of us were told to perform an opera. Susan and Caroline sang earnestly on either side of the stage, and I brought Henry to the floor, where we wrestled (摔跤) each other like out-of-control teenagers. The rest of the group was in uncontrollable fits of laughter. As a performer, I’ ll never appreciate just why it seemed so funny. But the point is that I would never have written this on the paper. It was a joyous, found moment.
1. Why did the author attend the comedy course?| A．He wanted to see how the theories worked in practice. |
| B．He discovered he had some natural ability in comedy. |
| C．He worried about how other performers would find him. |
| D．He got unpleasant experiences when performing a comedy. |
| A．copy their favorite performance |
| B．imagine other people’ s reactions |
| C．help themselves feel comfortable |
| D．behave in a more playful manner |
| A．To discuss what humor brings about exactly. |
| B．To give an example of another kind of humor. |
| C．To prove the point about psychology of humor. |
| D．To show why some people are funnier than others. |
| A．Visual humor is what appeals to people most. |
| B．What people find funny is often unpredictable. |
| C．Theories explaining humor tend to be mistaken. |
| D．Learning comic skills proves to be a difficult task. |
4 . If you have a long holiday to spend, where can you go?
Nikoi Island, Indonesia
Less than 85 km – but somehow a whole world away – from Singapore’s shining skyline lies Nikoi Island. Surrounded by white sandy shorelines and vivid coral reefs, Nikoi’s centre is hidden in rainforest, resulting in amazing biodiversity seen in its native plants, animals and bird life. Marrying traditional Indonesian craftsmanship with contemporary design, Nikoi boasts just 15 stilted（建于支柱上的）beach houses, all with breathtaking sea views, guaranteeing privacy and total escape from the daily grind.
Amanpulo, Philippines
The only property on Pamalican Island, the luxurious Amanpulo resort offers extremely impressive accommodation, with only access to over five kilometres of clean coral sand beach. Designed to resemble indigenous Bahay Kubo homes, Amanpulo’s beachside, treetop and hillside villas all feature comfortable decks with hammocks（吊床）from which to enjoy the spectacular views of the greenish-blue sea below. Fill your schedule with Amanpulo’s signature aquatic adventures (including diving, windsurfing and sailing), recharge in the award-winning spa or feast upon locally caught seafood – the choice is yours.
Song Saa, Cambodia
Song Saa’s incredible ocean views, and breathtaking sunsets are a very typical example of pure paradise. Its 24 villas – each with their own sea-view private plunge pool – are designed to reflect the natural beauty of Cambodia’s coastline; built from recycled wood with straw roofs and driftwood furnishings, these presences are stylish proof of Song Saa’s admirable commitment to sustainability（持续）and conservation. You can choose to do as much or as little as you want here, with rainforest tours, island safaris and reef snorkelling just some of the activities on offer that showcase this spectacular destination.
1. What can we see in the center of Nikoi’s Island?| A．Lands of desert. | B．Streams and rivers. |
| C．Kinds of animals and plants. | D．Tall buildings. |
| A．They are made of bricks. |
| B．We can have a good view of the sea there. |
| C．They are very expensive. |
| D．We can learn much historic stories from them. |
| A．Diving. | B．White rafting. |
| C．Mountain-climbing. | D．Rainforest tour. |
5 . Tang Dynasty poets sang for about three centuries in different tones. There were many famous poets living in the Tang period such as Li Bai, Du Fu, Bai Juyi and Li Shangyin. Poems of the Tang Dynasty edited in the Qing Dynasty is a collection of about 48,900 poems that were written by over 2,200 poets. But it didn’t cover all the poems of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Tang Dynasty, poems were recited when lovers walked under the moonlight. Poems were also recited when soldiers fought on the battlefield. People recited them in the open air or at temple fairs.
In the Tang Dynasty scholars had to be poets. Their readers were not only people of high social position but also common people. Poets recited poems; women singers sang poems and other ranks of people, including old women and children, read Tang poems. This atmosphere affected foreigners who visited the country at that time. As a result, Tang poetry was introduced to some adjacent countries, like Japan and Vietnam.
Tang poetry is a most brilliant page in the history of ancient Chinese literature. It’s a miracle in the cultural history of mankind. The Tang Dynasty was a powerful empire with a vast territory. It inherited Chinese civilization that went back to ancient times, and was combined with the best of other cultures and adopted the benefits of other nations in the world. Tang poetry wasn’t the only spiritual wealth created by the Tang Dynasty people. Philosophy and religion, handwriting and painting and music and dance all gained new peaks of development. Tang poetry, however, was the jewel in the crown and its greatest achievement.
1. It can be inferred from Paragraph 1 that_____________.| A．there were more than 48,900 poems written in Tang Dynasty |
| B．in total there were four famous poets in the Tang Dynasty |
| C．only people in the Tang Dynasty created poems |
| D．in the Tang Dynasty most common people were poets |
| A．neighboring | B．strong | C．poor | D．rich |
| A．In the Tang Dynasty all scholars were poets. |
| B．Tang Dynasty poems were quite popular. |
| C．Many foreigners came to our country during the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．In the Tang Dynasty many poems were sung by women singers. |
| A．Why the poets created poems. |
| B．Some other kinds of spiritual wealth in the Tang Dynasty. |
| C．The significance and influence of the Tang Dynasty. |
| D．The editors of Poems of the Tang Dynasty. |
6 . My mother died in August 2005. Eight months later, I began to come out of the fog of sadness and depression to find a new purpose for my life.
Like many of my generation, I had lived only for myself —traveling, acquiring possessions, rising to a position of importance and seeking financial rewards. I was “charitable” and “volunteered” for various causes, but really didn’t give of myself.
In the spring after my mom’s death, I found myself waking in the middle of the night with one thought. I felt forced to offer myself as a living kidney donor. My husband Robb had received the gift of life through a kidney transplant(移植)from a dead donor in 1999, so I was familiar with the enormous need for donors and knew several people who were waiting for a lifesaving transplant. I decided to offer myself to be matched with the most compatible(互不排斥的)person on the waiting list at my local transplant center.
I was paired with 71-year-old Dee from New Jerse who had survived for six years on peritoneal dialysis(腹腔透析). At her 70th birthday, her family threw a big party as they did not expect her to live much longer. Dee has become my very good friend. Almost two years after the transplant, I was privileged to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband, their five children and their extended family.
In donating my kidney, I extended myself in a way far beyond what I ever believed was possible. I did so in honor of my mother who sacrificed so much for me and my sisters, and in memory of my husband’s donor who extended her 1ife through him.
I encourage all who enjoy the gift of good health to share with others, either as a living donor or by appointing organ donation upon death. By extending yourself through organ donation, you will live on through others in an extraordinary way and give comfort to your loved ones.
1. What does the underlined phrase “give of” mean?| A．Relieve. | B．Devote |
| C．Appreciate | D．Forgive |
| A．Dee was the author’s old friend |
| B．The author attended Dee’s birthday party |
| C．Dee treated the author as a family member |
| D．The author’s donation made Dee live six years longer |
| A．An old lady benefited from organ donation |
| B．The memory of my beloved mother |
| C．The deep meaning of love |
| D．Extend yourself |
7 . From July to October every year, about a quarter of the world’s blue whales feed in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. But the whales currently face a major threat in their favorite feeding area. Ships carrying cargo (货物）sail in the same area at the same time. All too often, the whales’ paths and the ships’ travel lines overlap (重叠), and a ship will hit a whale.
According to a new study, these ship strikes have become a serious threat to the overall population of the world’s blue whales. Only about 10,000 of the creatures still exist worldwide. Blue whales are the largest known animals ever to live on Earth. Even so, if hit by a container ship, a blue whale will likely die from its injuries.
In 2007 alone, large ships killed five blue whales in the waters off San Francisco and Los Angeles, California. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says that because there are so few whales already, losing three to five from the California whale population every year is a significant loss. “The estimated population of blue whales in this part of the Pacific is 2,500”, says Sean Hastings, a NOAA analyst. “So every whale counts toward this species moving off the endangered-species list.”
Now, marine scientists must figure out how to protect the whales from the giant container ships. One very simple program is already under way in the Santa Barbara Channel, a waterway that separates mainland California from the nearby Channel Islands.
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary has asked large container ships passing through the area to voluntarily slow down. Sailing slower will allow the ships‟ crew (船员）more time to change course before hitting a whale.
Several of the world’s largest shipping lines are set to participate in the new program. For every ship that passes through the Santa Barbara Channel at or below the reduced speed of 12 knots (海里/小时）, the company that owns the ship will be paid $2,500.
1. From Paragraph 1, we can know that_____.| A．people intend to illegally hunt blue whales for money |
| B．large ships often carrying goods may pollute the sea |
| C．the container ships may hit the blue whales frequently |
| D．there is fewer fish in blue whales‟ favorite feeding area |
| A．Because the number of the blue whales is so small. |
| B．Because other blue whales will be scared away. |
| C．Because blue whales are the largest animals in the world. |
| D．Because many blue whales get killed throughout the year. |
| A．the number of the blue whales is decreasing sharply. |
| B．the blue whales are still on the endangered-species list. |
| C．most of the world’s blue whales live in the Pacific Ocean. |
| D．blue whales are often disturbed by other endangered creatures. |
| A．The basic responsibility of a sailor. |
| B．Measures to protect the blue whales. |
| C．The world’s largest shipping lines. |
| D．Ways to slow down the speed of the ships. |
8 . What are the biggest problems that society will have to deal with in the new age? There re diseases like AIDS and cancer. There’s climate change, of course. And what about producing enough cheap food and energy for the world’s growing population? Who’s going to solve all these terrible problems? Yes, politicians and world leaders will have a big part to play. Yes businesses will need to create the economic wealth to pay for some of these things. But who’s going to make a much greater difference to something like AIDS or climate change. It’s going to be a scientist. It is the scientist who can turn some new bit of science into a new technology to solve these problems. If you like thinking about the world around you, why not become a scientist? It doesn’t mean you have to wear a white coat and plastic glasses and spend all your time in a lab as most people often imagine! Scientists do all kinds of amazing things that are actually interesting!
Military scientists develop not only new weapons but new military technologies that could help make wars out of date. Forensic (法医的) scientists work with the police to find quite small clues to catch criminals. Scientists work in schools and colleges as the teachers and professors who will train tomorrow’s scientists. Don’t think a scientist is far away! Maybe you like cooking? You could be a food technologist helping to keep fruit and vegetables fresher for longer. Perhaps sport is your thing? Do you know that most top athletes work with sports scientists in order or improve their performance? You could even be the science writer who gets to spend the life studying the latest advances and sharing them with the world.
Looking for something to do for the rest of your life? My advice? Take a long and hard look at science. It is interesting and ever.
1. Many problems are mentioned in the first paragraph to .| A．suggest they are impossible to be solved |
| B．introduce the causes of these problems |
| C．show the writer’s worry about the future world |
| D．show scientists play an important part in solving them |
| A．Advanced weapons | B．Enough energy |
| C．New technologies | D．A growing population |
| A．amazing | B．boring |
| C．colorful | D．unreal |
| A．Owing to military technologies, there has been no wars |
| B．For those interested in cooking, food technologies may be a choice |
| C．Forensic scientists play an important part in dealing with crimes |
| D．Most athletes can achieve greater achievement with the help of sports scientists |
9 . When you are living a fully-scheduled life, every minute counts. No matter how many ways you divide your
Six years ago, I was
Then one day, things
Though my
Pausing to delight in the simple joys of daily life is the only way to truly live. Trust me, I learned from the world’s born
| A．attention | B．memory | C．love | D．experience |
| A．bored | B．blessed | C．content | D．patient |
| A．sister | B．grandma | C．son | D．daughter |
| A．time | B．ice cream | C．step | D．lunch |
| A．big | B．quick | C．nutritious | D．joyful |
| A．goal | B．responsibility | C．schedule | D．interest |
| A．Consequently | B．Frankly | C．Surprisingly | D．Unusually |
| A．Cheer up | B．Pull up | C．Shut up | D．Hurry up |
| A．improved | B．changed | C．appeared | D．worsened |
| A．silly | B．excited | C．careful | D．slow |
| A．silenced | B．contradicted | C．mirrored | D．encouraged |
| A．both | B．all | C．some | D．neither |
| A．demand | B．offer | C．promise | D．mistake |
| A．reminder | B．memory | C．image | D．example |
| A．half | B．bite | C．cup | D．piece |
| A．wondered | B．realized | C．recognized | D．valued |
| A．in conclusion | B．in short | C．in return | D．in fact |
| A．hotter | B．softer | C．sourer | D．sweeter |
| A．rushing | B．going | C．getting | D．surviving |
| A．dancer | B．magician | C．expert | D．singer |
10 . The sky is large place, and though it has been carefully examined for centuries, new features still turn up. Last March it was the rule of Uranus (天王星), and last week astronomers announced what may turn out to be a new planet, though a very small one, in the solar system.
The object was first sighted last month by Charles Kowal, an astronomer at the Hale Observatories in Pasadena, Calif. Mr. Kowal observed a faint trail of light on photographic plates, indicating that something was moving in relation to the background of stars. Other observers have confirmed the discovery.
The “mini-planet”, identified for the time being as “Object-Kowal”, appears to be about 1.5 billion miles away, between the orbit of Saturn and Uranus, and its diameter (直径) has been estimated at between 100 and 400 miles. Its orbit has not been determined yet, but if the orbit proves to be roughly circular, like that of the major planets, the new object would probably take 66 to 70 years to make a circuit of the sun.
Some astronomers have speculated that Mr. Kowal’s discovery may be the first indication of an asteroid (小行星) belt beyond Saturn.
1. What may have been found in the solar system according to the first paragraph?| A．A small new planet | B．A new solar system |
| C．A large new object | D．A large new planet |
| A．What the object is like |
| B．How the object was found |
| C．Where the astronomers live |
| D．Why the object was moving |
| A．Astronomy | B．Industry |
| C．Spaceflight | D．Agriculture |
